Efficacy of biological controllers in the management of Cosmopolites sordidus and Metamasius hemipterus under laboratory conditions

The search for ecological alternatives for the control of C. sordidus, M. hemipterus is necessary and the use of entomopathogenic fungi must be considered within the management of these insect-pests; Within the species of entomopathogenic fungi we find Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae as potential natural regulators of insect populations harmful to agricultural crops. The research was carried out in the Entomology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Laboratory materials were used. Two factors were studied: a) control of C. sordidus and M. hemipterus, b) dosage and biological controllers. The treatments, consisting of the fungal strains, with the respective doses, were evaluated. The randomized complementary blocks (RCD) experimental design was used with 6 treatments, 5 repetitions. Performing the Tukey test at 95% probability. The following variables were evaluated: number of live insects, number of dead insects, percentage of mycelium and mortality. Through the analysis of the results, it was determined that mortality of C. sordidus at 8 days was reported with the B. bassiana treatment 12 g/L (28.00) and the chemical treatment (Thiamethoxam) 12 ml/L (28.00 %) being numerically superior to the rest of the treatments. In the evaluation after 11 days, it was observed that the M. anisopliae 12 g/L (60.00%) treatment was statistically superior to the rest of the treatments. The percentage of mortality of M. hemipterus at 8 days was reported with the B. bassiana 12 g/L treatment (28.00%) and the M. anisopliae 8 g/L treatment (28.00%) being numerically higher than the rest of the treatments. In the evaluation after 11 days, it was observed that the B. bassiana 12 g/L treatment (56.00%) was statistically superior to the rest of the treatments.